State of Kindness: Exploring the Power of Kindness in Women's Recovery

In a world grappling with rising levels of loneliness and disconnection, kindness is more than a virtue—it’s a public health necessity. Dr. Jeannette Maré of The University of Arizona, is leading a groundbreaking study, funded by an MRI grant to explore how everyday acts of kindness—also called by the researchers prosocial communication, can transform one critical healing environment:  a substance use recovery center for women.

Despite widespread interest in kindness, too little is known about how to intentionally foster it at the organizational or community level. This study aims to fill the gap by exploring how kindness is defined, experienced, and practiced in a recovery setting—where trust, belonging, and mutual support are essential to healing.

Using a mixed-methods approach, the Dr. Maré will partner with women in recovery, staff members , and community stakeholders to:

• Define kindness in context through collaborative group concept mapping,

• Explore the motivations behind kind behavior using the Reasoned Action Framework,

• Co-create practical tools and strategies to help embed kindness into the culture of the recovery center.

By moving kindness from an abstract ideal into a practical, measurable, and teachable practice, this project hopes to empower recovery centers—and potentially other care settings—to intentionally design environments that promote healing through human connection.

Kindness isn't just about being nice—it's a form of communication that supports long-term recovery, builds community resilience, and fosters healthier relationships. State of Kindness aligns with the growing movement to make prosocial behavior a central focus of public health, policy, and organizational culture.